Civil war relics on display at Dedham Historical Society

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The Dedham Transcript

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Posted May. 2, 2014 at 8:00 AM

Posted May. 2, 2014 at 8:00 AM

DEDHAM

» Social News

By Sara Feijo

sfeijo@wickedlocal.com

A slave chain and padlock, postcards of Memorial Hall and letters from soldiers to their family and friends are just a few of the many artifacts on display at the Dedham Historical Society and Museum’s Civil War exhibit.

According to Director Vicky Kruckeberg, the Civil War collection includes about 80 artifacts, such as uniforms and swords, and nearly 100 letters, diaries and photographs.

"We felt that as we researched what we had, we had significantly interesting pieces and we needed to share them with our visitors," Kruckeberg said April 22 after giving a lecture on the society’s Civil War collection.

The lecture was the last of a series that covered several topics, from Forest Hills Cemetery to Dedham’s historic districts and oriental rugs.

Kruckeberg discussed several pieces of the collection, including Julius Lathrop’s letters to his brothers John and Joseph Lathrop, Henry Tisdale’s Civil War diary, which includes information from his time at Camp Sumter military prison at Andersonville, and the slave chain and padlock donated by Henrietta L. T. Wolcott, of Dedham, in 1889.

"We have a terrific exhibit over here displaying Dedham’s role in the battlefield, as well as the home front," Steve Brayton, former president of the historical society, said.

Brian Keaney, a former volunteer at the historical society, asked if the society has similar collections of artifacts from other wars.

"We have some things from World War I, not much from World War II, very little from Korea, and practically nothing from Vietnam," Kruckeberg said.

According to Kruckeberg, the society has been collecting Civil War artifacts for 150 years, but there is limited knowledge regarding some items, including a smoking pipe that was made of clay and belonged to a Dedham bookkeeper.

Kruckeberg urged people who may have knowledge of the time period to contact the historical society.

The lecture was part of the society’s annual meeting, during which Andrea Gilmore was named the new president. She is the second woman to hold such a position.

Brayton stepped down after six continuous years of service.

The Civil War exhibit will be on display at the Dedham Historical Society and Museum through September 1.

Fee is $2 for adults and $1 for children. Historical society members can view the exhibit for free.

For more information, call 781-326-1385 or visit dedhamhistorical.org.

Staff writer Sara Feijo can be reached at 781-433-8336 or sfeijo@wickedlocal.com. Follow @s_fjo on Twitter. Like The Dedham Transcript on Facebook and follow @DedhamTranscrip on Twitter.